CHAPTER 257
As soon as Arianna saw the cameras and microphones aimed in her direction, she immediately realized they were reporters, causing her eyebrows to raise slightly.
Could Starlight TV have arranged for these reporters to interview the first-place winner of the competition’s first round?
That thought had barely crossed her mind when a reporter began snapping photos and asked,
“Mrs King, we’ve heard you lost a bet with another contestant. Are you really about to bark here at the entrance of Starlight TV?”
Arianna’s lips twitched.
So *that’s* what this was about…
Jane must have tipped off the reporters in advance, hoping to capture Arianna’s humiliation and spread the news.
Keeping her composure, Arianna looked at the reporter, smiled, and nodded.
“Oh, there will be barking!”
The reporters’ eyes gleamed with excitement as they scrambled to capture the moment.
Arianna let the suspense hang for a few seconds before adding, “But I won’t be the one barking. That honour belongs to Jane!”
The reporters, stunned, exchanged confused glances, trying to make sense of her words.
From the corner of her eye, Arianna noticed Jane, now wearing sunglasses, attempting to make a quiet exit. With a sly smile, she called out,
“Oh, Ms. Plunkett! Time to fulfil that bet, wouldn’t you say?”
All eyes turned toward Jane, whose body visibly froze in place.
Her supporters, once standing by her, subtly distanced themselves, wanting no part in her impending embarrassment.
Elsie couldn’t resist enjoying the unfolding drama, especially when Jade was about to be publicly humiliated. Worried Jane might try to escape, Elsie quickly stepped forward, blocking her path, and taunted,
“What’s wrong, Jane? Are you backing out of the bet just because you lost? Weren’t you the one making a huge deal about not being a sore loser earlier? Are you one now?”
Jane’s eyes reddened with frustration, and she gritted her teeth as she glared at Elsie.
But with so many witnesses—her fellow contestants and reporters—there was no way she could deny the bet or pretend it never happened.
The reporters had been waiting for this moment, and the crowd around them continued to grow. Even though Jane desperately wanted to avoid public embarrassment, she knew Arianna and Elsie weren’t the type to let things slide.
The longer she delayed, the bigger the spectacle would become, and it might even catch the attention of Starlight TV’s higher-ups, potentially tarnishing her reputation further.
Jane clenched her fists, forcing herself to go through with it.
“Who said I’m a sore loser? I always keep my word!” she snapped.
She closed her eyes, opened her mouth, and reluctantly let out three soft barks,
“Woof, woof, woof!”
Once finished, she shot a venomous look at Arianna and asked coldly,
“Satisfied?”
Arianna didn’t respond; the taxi she’d called had just arrived. She calmly walked over to the car, bent down slightly, and got in without a word.
Meanwhile, Elsie, who had already captured Jane’s humiliating moment on video, chuckled and said,
“Wow, Jane! I didn’t expect you to sound so much like a real dog. You’ve got quite the knack for it. Maybe you should consider switching to acting—who knows, you could be the next award-winning actress!”
“You!” Jane’s face flushed with rage. If it weren’t for all the people around, she might have lunged at Elsie to shut her up.
The reporters, visibly irritated, glared at Jane. One of them spoke up bluntly,
“What a waste of time! I turned down a major photo shoot for this pointless spectacle. Don’t bother calling me again for this kind of ‘news’.”
With that, the reporters climbed into their cars and drove off, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
The other contestants and onlookers gradually dispersed, leaving Jane standing alone, frozen in place. Her face grew pale as the frustration and humiliation sank in. The more she thought about it, the angrier and more upset she became, her eyes welling up with tears.
Jane had never been publicly humiliated like this before, especially since she’d gained popularity. No one had ever dared to treat her this way!
Just then, a tissue appeared in front of her, accompanied by a soft voice.
“Are you okay?”
Jane looked up through tear-filled eyes to see Harmony standing before her.
Harmony’s large, gentle eyes were filled with concern and sympathy. She gently wiped Jane’s tears before Jane could even reach for the tissue.
“I’m sorry this happened to you because of me,” Harmony said softly.
Everyone else had distanced themselves from Jane, embarrassed by the scene, so it was a surprise that Harmony was the one to offer comfort.
Jane had never thought kindly of Harmony, viewing her as a threat due to her beauty, competence, and charm. But she never expected Harmony to be so kind-hearted.
Harmony had no part in the incident, yet she was here apologizing.
Jane, still emotional, quickly said, “Why are you apologizing? Arianna’s the one at fault! We’re all contestants, but she humiliated me in front of everyone! Trust me, this won’t be the last time she tries something like this.”
Harmony sighed softly, “Jane, I think we should just focus on being our best selves. There’s no point in going after Arianna. You know she has a unique position, and in the end, you might be the one who suffers. Just give it your all. As long as you’ve done your best with a clear conscience, that’s what matters.”
Jame listened to Harmony’s words, but something felt off. She frowned and took a small step back, her eyes narrowing slightly.
“Are you suggesting that Arianna used her position as Mrs. King to influence the results?”
A flicker of panic crossed Harmony’s face, and she quickly denied it.
“No, that’s not what I meant at all. I’m just saying we should focus on the competition and get along.”
Before Jane could respond, Harmony’s car arrived. Harmony gave her a final smile.
“Don’t let it get to you. I’ve got to go now. See you next time.”
The car pulled away swiftly as Harmony got in.
Janne stood there, watching the car disappear, her expression hardening as her thoughts deepened.
